Zone volume control

ABSTRACT

Example techniques involve controlling playback volumes. An example implementation includes displaying a group volume control of a synchrony group, the group volume control comprising a group volume indicator on a group volume slider and receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing a selection of the group volume control. The implementation also includes displaying, concurrently with the group volume control, a first volume control comprising a first volume indicator on a first volume slider and a second volume control comprising a second volume indicator on a second volume slider. The implementation also includes receiving, via the displayed group volume control, input data representing an input to modify a first volume setting of the synchrony group to a second volume setting and transmitting instructions to cause the synchrony group to modify volume settings according to the second volume setting of the synchrony group.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is acontinuation of, U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No.16/657,458, filed on Oct. 18, 2019, entitled “Zone Volume Control,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/657,458 claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/176,095, filed on Oct.31, 2018, entitled “Zone Volume Control,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,454,437 on Oct. 22, 2019, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/176,095 claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/481,158, filed on Apr. 6,2017, entitled “Group Volume Control,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No.10,122,338 on May 16, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/481,158 claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to, and is a continuation of, U.S.non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13/319,222, filed on Jun. 7,2013, entitled “Group Volume Control,” and issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,654,073 on May 16, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure is related to consumer goods and, more particularly, tomethods, systems, products, features, services, and other items directedto media playback or some aspect thereof.

BACKGROUND

Digital music has become readily available due in part to thedevelopment of consumer level technology that has allowed people tolisten to digital music on a personal audio device. The consumer'sincreasing preference for digital audio has also resulted in theintegration of personal audio devices into PDAs, cellular phones, andother mobile devices. The portability of these mobile devices hasenabled people to take the music listening experience with them andoutside of the home. People have become able to consume digital music,like digital music files or even Internet radio, in the home through theuse of their computer or similar devices. Now there are many differentways to consume digital music, in addition to other digital contentincluding digital video and photos, stimulated in many ways byhigh-speed Internet access at home, mobile broadband Internet access,and the consumer's hunger for digital media.

Until recently, options for accessing and listening to digital audio inan out-loud setting were severely limited. In 2005, Sonos offered forsale its first digital audio system that enabled people to, among manyother things, access virtually unlimited sources of audio via one ormore networked connected zone players, dynamically group or ungroup zoneplayers upon command, wirelessly send the audio over a local networkamongst zone players, and play the digital audio out loud in synchrony.The Sonos system can be controlled by software applications downloadedto certain network capable, mobile devices and computers.

Given the insatiable appetite of consumers towards digital media, therecontinues to be a need to develop consumer technology thatrevolutionizes the way people access and consume digital media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technologymay be better understood with regard to the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows an example configuration in which certain embodiments maybe practiced;

FIG. 2A shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and transducers;

FIG. 2B shows an illustration of an example zone player having abuilt-in amplifier and connected to external speakers;

FIG. 2C shows an illustration of an example zone player connected to anA/V receiver and speakers;

FIG. 3 shows an illustration of an example controller;

FIG. 4 shows an internal functional block diagram of an example zoneplayer;

FIG. 5 shows an internal functional block diagram of an examplecontroller;

FIG. 6 shows an example playback queue configuration for a network mediasystem;

FIG. 7 shows an example ad-hoc playback network;

FIG. 8 shows a system including a plurality of networks including acloud-based network and at least one local playback network;

FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for volume control of a group ofplayback devices;

FIG. 10A shows an example representation of an example interface formedia content playback by a group of playback devices;

FIG. 10B shows an example representation of a first example interfacefor volume control of a group of playback devices;

FIG. 11A shows an example representation of a second example interfacefor volume control of a group of playback devices;

FIG. 11B shows an example representation of a third example interfacefor volume control of a group of playback devices;

FIG. 11C shows an example representation of a fourth example interfacefor volume control of a group of playback devices; and

FIG. 12 shows an example representation of a fifth example interface forvolume control of a group of playback devices.

In addition, the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating exampleembodiments, but it is understood that the inventions are not limited tothe arrangements and instrumentality shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

Embodiments described herein involve volume controls of playback devicesin a network media system. In one example, the network media system mayinclude multiple playback zones, each having one or more playbackdevices and a respective, independently adjustable playback volume.

In one case, a group volume may be provided for a group of one or moreplayback zones in the network media system such that an adjustment ofthe group volume along a group volume scale may cause correspondingadjustments to playback volumes along respective volume scales for theone or more playback zones in the group. For instance, if an example“Porch” playback zone is playing media content at a volume level of 35out of 100, and a group volume associated with a group including thePorch is adjusted by 19 increments from a volume level of 47 out of 100to 66, the volume level of the Porch may accordingly be adjusted by 19increments to be at 44.

In another case, the adjustment of the group volume may be applied tothe one or more playback zones in the group such that the volume levelon the respective volume scale for each playback zone in the groupmatches that of the group volume level on the group volume scale. Inthis case, the group volume level of 66 may be applied to the Porch andany other playback zone in the group such that the respective volumelevels for the Porch and the other playback zones in the group may eachbe at 66 out of 100, matching the group volume level.

In one example, the playback volumes of playback devices in the networkmedia system may be adjusted using a controller interface provided on atouch screen display of a network capable device. In one case, aparticular playback volume may be graphically represented on the displayas a volume indicator along a graphically represented volume scale, anda user may adjust the particular playback volume by touching the volumeindicator displayed on the touch screen and dragging the volumeindicator to a desired position along the volume scale. If theparticular playback volume corresponds to a specific playback zone, thevolume adjustment may be applied to the one or more playback devices inthe specific playback zone. If the particular playback volumecorresponds to a group of playback zones as discussed above,corresponding volume adjustments may be made to the one or more playbackdevices in each playback zone of the group.

Further, interactions between the user and user interface via the touchscreen may be performed to cause the particular playback volume to beapplied to other playback zones in the network media system, as alsodiscussed above. In other words, the interactions may cause acorresponding volume indicator to be moved to the same, or substantiallythe same desired position along a corresponding volume scale for eachplayback zone the particular playback volume is to be applied to.

In one example, the interactions may include a dwell or hold touch inputon the desired position along the volume scale. If the particularplayback volume corresponds to a group of playback zones, the dwell orhold touch input may cause the desired playback volume or desiredposition along the volume scale to be applied to each playback zone inthe group.

In another example, the interactions may include a swipe touch input. Inone case, the swipe touch input may start at or substantially near thedesired position along the volume scale for the particular volume leveland traverse one or more playback volume representations shown on thecontroller interface. In this case, the desired playback volume ordesired position along the volume scale may be applied to each playbackzone associated with the one or more playback volume representationstraversed by the swipe touch input. Other example interactions, such asflick or double tap input interactions are also possible.

As indicated above, the present application involves volume controls ofplayback devices in a network media system. In one aspect, a method isprovided. The method involves providing for display on a user interfacean adjustable first volume indicator along a first volume scaleassociated with a first playback volume of a first group of one or moreplayback devices, and an independently adjustable second volumeindicator along a second volume scale associated with a second playbackvolume of a second group of one or more playback devices

The method further involves receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The method also involves responsively, causing a corresponding movementof the second volume indicator to a matching position along the secondvolume scale according to the particular position of the first volumeindicator, and causing the second playback volume of the second group ofone or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playback volumecorresponding to the matching position along the second volume scale.

In another aspect, a device is provided. The device includes a processorand memory having stored thereon instructions executable by theprocessor to perform functions. The functions include providing fordisplay on a user interface an adjustable first volume indicator along afirst volume scale associated with a first playback volume of a firstgroup of one or more playback devices, and an independently adjustablesecond volume indicator along a second volume scale associated with asecond playback volume of a second group of one or more playbackdevices.

The functions further involve receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The functions also involve responsively, causing a correspondingmovement of the second volume indicator to a matching position along thesecond volume scale according to the particular position of the firstvolume indicator, and causing the second playback volume of the secondgroup of one or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playbackvolume corresponding to the matching position along the second volumescale.

In yet another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable memory isprovided. The non-transitory computer readable memory has stored thereoninstructions executable by a computing device to cause the computingdevice to perform functions. The functions include providing for displayon a user interface an adjustable first volume indicator along a firstvolume scale associated with a first playback volume of a first group ofone or more playback devices, and an independently adjustable secondvolume indicator along a second volume scale associated with a secondplayback volume of a second group of one or more playback devices.

The functions further involve receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The functions also involve responsively, causing a correspondingmovement of the second volume indicator to a matching position along thesecond volume scale according to the particular position of the firstvolume indicator, and causing the second playback volume of the secondgroup of one or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playbackvolume corresponding to the matching position along the second volumescale.

Other embodiments, as those discussed in the following and others as canbe appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art are alsopossible.

II. Example Operating Environment

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals can refer to likeparts throughout the figures, FIG. 1 shows an example media systemconfiguration 100 in which one or more embodiments disclosed herein canbe practiced or implemented.

By way of illustration, the media system configuration 100 is associatedwith a home having multiple zones, although it should be understood thatthe home could be configured with only one zone. Additionally, one ormore zones can be added to the configuration 100 over time. Each zonemay be assigned by a user to a different room or space, such as, forexample, an office, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, familyroom, home theater room, utility or laundry room, and patio. A singlezone might also include multiple rooms or spaces if so configured. Withrespect to FIG. 1 , one or more of zone players 102-124 are shown ineach respective zone. Zone players 102-124, also referred to herein asplayback devices, multimedia units, speakers, players, and so on,provide audio, video, and/or audiovisual output. A controller 130 (e.g.,shown in the kitchen for purposes of this illustration) provides controlto the media system configuration 100. Controller 130 may be fixed to azone, or alternatively, mobile such that it can be moved about thezones. The media system configuration 100 may also include more than onecontroller 130, and additional controllers may be added to the systemover time.

The media system configuration 100 illustrates an example whole housemedia system, though it is understood that the technology describedherein is not limited to, among other things, its particular place ofapplication or to an expansive system like a whole house media system100 of FIG. 1 .

a. Example Zone Players

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C show example types of zone players. Zone players200, 202, and 204 of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively, can correspondto any of the zone players 102-124 of FIG. 1 , for example. In someembodiments, audio is reproduced using only a single zone player, suchas by a full-range player. In some embodiments, audio is reproducedusing two or more zone players, such as by using a combination offull-range players or a combination of full-range and specializedplayers. In some embodiments, zone players 200-204 may also be referredto as a “smart speaker,” because they contain processing capabilitiesbeyond the reproduction of audio, more of which is described below.

FIG. 2A illustrates zone player 200 that includes sound producingequipment 208 capable of reproducing full-range sound. The sound maycome from an audio signal that is received and processed by zone player200 over a wired or wireless data network. Sound producing equipment 208includes one or more built-in amplifiers and one or more acoustictransducers (e.g., speakers). A built-in amplifier is described morebelow with respect to FIG. 4 . A speaker or acoustic transducer caninclude, for example, any of a tweeter, a mid-range driver, a low-rangedriver, and a subwoofer. In some embodiments, zone player 200 can bestatically or dynamically configured to play stereophonic audio,monaural audio, or both. In some embodiments, zone player 200 may bedynamically configured to reproduce a subset of full-range sound, suchas when zone player 200 is grouped with other zone players to playstereophonic audio, monaural audio, and/or surround audio or when theaudio content received by zone player 200 is less than full-range.

FIG. 2B illustrates zone player 202 that includes a built-in amplifierto power a set of detached speakers 210. A detached speaker can include,for example, any type of loudspeaker. Zone player 202 may be configuredto power one, two, or more separate loudspeakers. Zone player 202 may beconfigured to communicate an audio signal (e.g., right and left channelaudio or more channels depending on its configuration) to the detachedspeakers 210 via a wired path.

FIG. 2C illustrates zone player 204 that does not include a built-inamplifier, but is configured to communicate an audio signal, receivedover a data network, to an audio (or “audio/video”) receiver 214 withbuilt-in amplification.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, one, some, or all of thezone players 102 to 124 can retrieve audio directly from a source. Forexample, a particular zone player in a zone or zone group may beassigned to a playback queue (or “queue”). The playback queue containsinformation corresponding to zero or more audio items for playback bythe associated zone or zone group. The playback queue may be stored inmemory on a zone player or some other designated device. Each itemcontained in the playback queue may comprise a uniform resourceidentifier (URI) or some other identifier that can be used by the zoneplayer(s) to seek out and/or retrieve the audio items from theidentified audio source(s). Depending on the item, the audio sourcemight be found on the Internet (e.g., the cloud), locally from anotherdevice over the data network 128 (described further below), from thecontroller 130, stored on the zone player itself, or from an audiosource communicating directly to the zone player. In some embodiments,the zone player can reproduce the audio itself (e.g., play the audio),send the audio to another zone player for reproduction, or both wherethe audio is reproduced by the zone player as well as one or moreadditional zone players (possibly in synchrony). In some embodiments,the zone player may play a first audio content (or alternatively, maynot play the content at all), while sending a second, different audiocontent to another zone player(s) for reproduction. To the user, eachitem in a playback queue is represented on an interface of a controllerby an element such as a track name, album name, playlist, or other someother representation. A user can populate the playback queue with audioitems of interest. The user may also modify and clear the playbackqueue, if so desired.

By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara, Calif. presentlyoffers for sale zone players referred to as a “PLAY:5,” “PLAY:3,”“PLAYBAR,” “CONNECT:AMP,” “CONNECT,” and “SUB.” Any other past, present,and/or future zone players can additionally or alternatively be used toimplement the zone players of example embodiments disclosed herein.Additionally, it is understood that a zone player is not limited to theparticular examples illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C or to the SONOSproduct offerings. For example, a zone player may include a wired orwireless headphone. In yet another example, a zone player might includea sound bar for television. In yet another example, a zone player mayinclude or interact with a docking station for an Apple IPOD™ or similardevice.

b. Example Controllers

FIG. 3 illustrates an example wireless controller 300 in docking station302. By way of illustration, controller 300 may correspond tocontrolling device 130 of FIG. 1 . Docking station 302, if provided orused, may provide power to the controller 300 and additionally maycharge a battery of controller 300. In some embodiments, controller 300may be provided with a touch screen 304 that allows a user to interactthrough touch with the controller 300, for example, to retrieve andnavigate a playlist of audio items, modify and/or clear the playbackqueue of one or more zone players, control other operations of one ormore zone players, and provide overall control of the systemconfiguration 100. In other embodiments, other input mechanisms such asvoice control may be used to interact with the controller 300. Incertain embodiments, any number of controllers can be used to controlthe system configuration 100. In some embodiments, there may be a limitset on the number of controllers that can control the systemconfiguration 100. The controllers might be wireless like wirelesscontroller 300 or wired to data network 128

In some embodiments, if more than one controller is used in system 100of FIG. 1 , each controller may be coordinated to display commoncontent, and may all be dynamically updated to indicate changes made tothe system 100 from a single controller. Coordination can occur, forinstance, by a controller periodically requesting a state variabledirectly or indirectly from one or more of the zone players; the statevariable may provide information about system 100, such as current zonegroup configuration, what is playing in one or more zones, volumelevels, and other items of interest. The state variable may be passedaround on data network 128 between zone players (and controllers, if sodesired) as needed or as often as programmed.

In addition, an application running on any network-enabled portabledevice, such as an iPhone™, iPad™, Android™ powered phone or tablet, orany other smart phone or network-enabled device can be used ascontroller 130. An application running on a laptop or desktop personalcomputer (PC) or Mac™ can also be used as controller 130. Suchcontrollers may connect to system 100 through an interface with datanetwork 128, a zone player, a wireless router, or using some otherconfigured connection path. Example controllers offered by Sonos, Inc.of Santa Barbara, Calif. include a “Controller 200,” “SONOS® CONTROL,”“SONOS® Controller for iPhone™,” “SONOS® Controller for iPad™,” “SONOS®Controller for Android™,” “SONOS® Controller for Mac™ or PC.”

c. Example Data Connection

Zone players 102 to 124 of FIG. 1 are coupled directly or indirectly toa data network, such as data network 128. Controller 130 may also becoupled directly or indirectly to data network 128 or individual zoneplayers. Data network 128 is represented by an octagon in the figure tostand out from other representative components. While data network 128is shown in a single location, it is understood that such a network isdistributed in and around system 100. Particularly, data network 128 canbe a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of both wiredand wireless networks. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers 102-124 are wirelessly coupled to data network 128 based on aproprietary mesh network. In some embodiments, one or more of the zoneplayers are coupled to data network 128 using a centralized access pointsuch as a wired or wireless router. In some embodiments, one or more ofthe zone players 102-124 are coupled via a wire to data network 128using Ethernet or similar technology. In addition to the one or morezone players 102-124 connecting to data network 128, data network 128can further allow access to a wide area network, such as the Internet.

In some embodiments, connecting any of the zone players 102-124, or someother connecting device, to a broadband router, can create data network128. Other zone players 102-124 can then be added wired or wirelessly tothe data network 128. For example, a zone player (e.g., any of zoneplayers 102-124) can be added to the system configuration 100 by simplypressing a button on the zone player itself (or perform some otheraction), which enables a connection to be made to data network 128. Thebroadband router can be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP),for example. The broadband router can be used to form another datanetwork within the system configuration 100, which can be used in otherapplications (e.g., web surfing). Data network 128 can also be used inother applications, if so programmed. An example, second network mayimplement SONOSNET™ protocol, developed by SONOS, Inc. of Santa Barbara.SONOSNET™ represents a secure, AES-encrypted, peer-to-peer wireless meshnetwork. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the data network 128 isthe same network, such as a traditional wired or wireless network, usedfor other applications in the household.

d. Example Zone Configurations

A particular zone can contain one or more zone players. For example, thefamily room of FIG. 1 contains two zone players 106 and 108, while thekitchen is shown with one zone player 102. In another example, the hometheater room contains additional zone players to play audio from a 5.1channel or greater audio source (e.g., a movie encoded with 5.1 orgreater audio channels). In some embodiments, one can position a zoneplayer in a room or space and assign the zone player to a new orexisting zone via controller 130. As such, zones may be created,combined with another zone, removed, and given a specific name (e.g.,“Kitchen”), if so desired and programmed to do so with controller 130.Moreover, in some embodiments, zone configurations may be dynamicallychanged even after being configured using controller 130 or some othermechanism.

In some embodiments, if a zone contains two or more zone players, suchas the two zone players 106 and 108 in the family room, then the twozone players 106 and 108 can be configured to play the same audio sourcein synchrony, or the two zone players 106 and 108 can be paired to playtwo separate sounds in left and right channels, for example. In otherwords, the stereo effects of a sound can be reproduced or enhancedthrough the two zone players 106 and 108, one for the left sound and theother for the right sound. In certain embodiments, paired zone players(also referred to as “bonded zone players”) can play audio in synchronywith other zone players in the same or different zones.

In some embodiments, two or more zone players can be sonicallyconsolidated to form a single, consolidated zone player. A consolidatedzone player (though made up of multiple, separate devices) can beconfigured to process and reproduce sound differently than anunconsolidated zone player or zone players that are paired, because aconsolidated zone player will have additional speaker drivers from whichsound can be passed. The consolidated zone player can further be pairedwith a single zone player or yet another consolidated zone player. Eachplayback device of a consolidated playback device can be set in aconsolidated mode, for example.

According to some embodiments, one can continue to do any of: group,consolidate, and pair zone players, for example, until a desiredconfiguration is complete. The actions of grouping, consolidation, andpairing are preferably performed through a control interface, such asusing controller 130, and not by physically connecting and re-connectingspeaker wire, for example, to individual, discrete speakers to createdifferent configurations. As such, certain embodiments described hereinprovide a more flexible and dynamic platform through which soundreproduction can be offered to the end-user.

e. Example Audio Sources

In some embodiments, each zone can play from the same audio source asanother zone or each zone can play from a different audio source. Forexample, someone can be grilling on the patio and listening to jazzmusic via zone player 124, while someone is preparing food in thekitchen and listening to classical music via zone player 102. Further,someone can be in the office listening to the same jazz music via zoneplayer 110 that is playing on the patio via zone player 124. In someembodiments, the jazz music played via zone players 110 and 124 isplayed in synchrony. Synchronizing playback amongst zones allows forsomeone to pass through zones while seamlessly (or substantiallyseamlessly) listening to the audio. Further, zones can be put into a“party mode” such that all associated zones will play audio insynchrony.

Sources of audio content to be played by zone players 102-124 arenumerous. In some embodiments, audio on a zone player itself may beaccessed and played. In some embodiments, audio on a controller may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. In some embodiments, musicfrom a personal library stored on a computer or networked-attachedstorage (NAS) may be accessed via the data network 128 and played. Insome embodiments, Internet radio stations, shows, and podcasts may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. Music or cloud servicesthat let a user stream and/or download music and audio content may beaccessed via the data network 128 and played. Further, music may beobtained from traditional sources, such as a turntable or CD player, viaa line-in connection to a zone player, for example. Audio content mayalso be accessed using a different protocol, such as AIRPLAY™, which isa wireless technology by Apple, Inc., for example. Audio contentreceived from one or more sources can be shared amongst the zone players102 to 124 via data network 128 and/or controller 130. Theabove-disclosed sources of audio content are referred to herein asnetwork-based audio information sources. However, network-based audioinformation sources are not limited thereto.

In some embodiments, the example home theater zone players 116, 118, 120are coupled to an audio information source such as a television 132. Insome examples, the television 132 is used as a source of audio for thehome theater zone players 116, 118, 120, while in other examples audioinformation from the television 132 may be shared with any of the zoneplayers 102-124 in the audio system 100.

III. Example Zone Players

Referring now to FIG. 4 , there is shown an example block diagram of azone player 400 in accordance with an embodiment. Zone player 400includes a network interface 402, a processor 408, a memory 410, anaudio processing component 412, one or more modules 414, an audioamplifier 416, and a speaker unit 418 coupled to the audio amplifier416. FIG. 2A shows an example illustration of such a zone player. Othertypes of zone players may not include the speaker unit 418 (e.g., suchas shown in FIG. 2B) or the audio amplifier 416 (e.g., such as shown inFIG. 2C). Further, it is contemplated that the zone player 400 can beintegrated into another component. For example, the zone player 400could be constructed as part of a television, lighting, or some otherdevice for indoor or outdoor use.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 facilitates a data flowbetween zone player 400 and other devices on a data network 128. In someembodiments, in addition to getting audio from another zone player ordevice on data network 128, zone player 400 may access audio directlyfrom the audio source, such as over a wide area network or on the localnetwork. In some embodiments, the network interface 402 can furtherhandle the address part of each packet so that it gets to the rightdestination or intercepts packets destined for the zone player 400.Accordingly, in certain embodiments, each of the packets includes anInternet Protocol (IP)-based source address as well as an IP-baseddestination address.

In some embodiments, network interface 402 can include one or both of awireless interface 404 and a wired interface 406. The wireless interface404, also referred to as a radio frequency (RF) interface, providesnetwork interface functions for the zone player 400 to wirelesslycommunicate with other devices (e.g., other zone player(s), speaker(s),receiver(s), component(s) associated with the data network 128, and soon) in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., any wirelessstandard including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac,802.15, 4G mobile communication standard, and so on). Wireless interface404 may include one or more radios. To receive wireless signals and toprovide the wireless signals to the wireless interface 404 and totransmit wireless signals, the zone player 400 includes one or moreantennas 420. The wired interface 406 provides network interfacefunctions for the zone player 400 to communicate over a wire with otherdevices in accordance with a communication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.3).In some embodiments, a zone player includes multiple wireless 404interfaces. In some embodiments, a zone player includes multiple wired406 interfaces. In some embodiments, a zone player includes both of theinterfaces 404 and 406. In some embodiments, a zone player 400 includesonly the wireless interface 404 or the wired interface 406.

In some embodiments, the processor 408 is a clock-driven electronicdevice that is configured to process input data according toinstructions stored in memory 410. The memory 410 is data storage thatcan be loaded with one or more software module(s) 414, which can beexecuted by the processor 408 to achieve certain tasks. In theillustrated embodiment, the memory 410 is a tangible machine-readablemedium storing instructions that can be executed by the processor 408.In some embodiments, a task might be for the zone player 400 to retrieveaudio data from another zone player or a device on a network (e.g.,using a uniform resource locator (URL) or some other identifier). Insome embodiments, a task may be for the zone player 400 to send audiodata to another zone player or device on a network. In some embodiments,a task may be for the zone player 400 to synchronize playback of audiowith one or more additional zone players. In some embodiments, a taskmay be to pair the zone player 400 with one or more zone players tocreate a multi-channel audio environment. Additional or alternativetasks can be achieved via the one or more software module(s) 414 and theprocessor 408.

The audio processing component 412 can include one or moredigital-to-analog converters (DAC), an audio preprocessing component, anaudio enhancement component or a digital signal processor, and so on. Insome embodiments, the audio processing component 412 may be part ofprocessor 408. In some embodiments, the audio that is retrieved via thenetwork interface 402 is processed and/or intentionally altered by theaudio processing component 412. Further, the audio processing component412 can produce analog audio signals. The processed analog audio signalsare then provided to the audio amplifier 416 for playback throughspeakers 418. In addition, the audio processing component 412 caninclude circuitry to process analog or digital signals as inputs to playfrom zone player 400, send to another zone player on a network, or bothplay and send to another zone player on the network. An example inputincludes a line-in connection (e.g., an auto-detecting 3.5 mm audioline-in connection).

The audio amplifier 416 is a device(s) that amplifies audio signals to alevel for driving one or more speakers 418. The one or more speakers 418can include an individual transducer (e.g., a “driver”) or a completespeaker system that includes an enclosure including one or more drivers.A particular driver can be a subwoofer (e.g., for low frequencies), amid-range driver (e.g., for middle frequencies), and a tweeter (e.g.,for high frequencies), for example. An enclosure can be sealed orported, for example. Each transducer may be driven by its own individualamplifier.

A commercial example, presently known as the PLAY:5™, is a zone playerwith a built-in amplifier and speakers that is capable of retrievingaudio directly from the source, such as on the Internet or on the localnetwork, for example. In particular, the PLAY:5™ is a five-amp,five-driver speaker system that includes two tweeters, two mid-rangedrivers, and one woofer. When playing audio content via the PLAY:5, theleft audio data of a track is sent out of the left tweeter and leftmid-range driver, the right audio data of a track is sent out of theright tweeter and the right mid-range driver, and mono bass is sent outof the subwoofer. Further, both mid-range drivers and both tweeters havethe same equalization (or substantially the same equalization). That is,they are both sent the same frequencies but from different channels ofaudio. Audio from Internet radio stations, online music and videoservices, downloaded music, analog audio inputs, television, DVD, and soon, can be played from the PLAY:5™.

IV. Example Controller

Referring now to FIG. 5 , there is shown an example block diagram forcontroller 500, which can correspond to the controlling device 130 inFIG. 1 . Controller 500 can be used to facilitate the control ofmulti-media applications, automation and others in a system. Inparticular, the controller 500 may be configured to facilitate aselection of a plurality of audio sources available on the network andenable control of one or more zone players (e.g., the zone players102-124 in FIG. 1 ) through a wireless or wired network interface 508.According to one embodiment, the wireless communications is based on anindustry standard (e.g., infrared, radio, wireless standards includingIEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.15, 4G mobile communicationstandard, and so on). Further, when a particular audio is being accessedvia the controller 500 or being played via a zone player, a picture(e.g., album art) or any other data, associated with the audio and/oraudio source can be transmitted from a zone player or other electronicdevice to controller 500 for display.

Controller 500 is provided with a screen 502 and an input interface 514that allows a user to interact with the controller 500, for example, tonavigate a playlist of many multimedia items and to control operationsof one or more zone players. The screen 502 on the controller 500 can bean LCD screen, for example. The screen 500 communicates with and iscommanded by a screen driver 504 that is controlled by a microcontroller(e.g., a processor) 506. The memory 510 can be loaded with one or moreapplication modules 512 that can be executed by the microcontroller 506with or without a user input via the user interface 514 to achievecertain tasks. In some embodiments, an application module 512 isconfigured to facilitate grouping a number of selected zone players intoa zone group to facilitate synchronized playback amongst the zoneplayers in the zone group. In some embodiments, an application module512 is configured to control the audio sounds (e.g., volume) of the zoneplayers in a zone group. In operation, when the microcontroller 506executes one or more of the application modules 512, the screen driver504 generates control signals to drive the screen 502 to display anapplication specific user interface accordingly.

The controller 500 includes a network interface 508 that facilitateswired or wireless communication with a zone player. In some embodiments,the commands such as volume control and audio playback synchronizationare sent via the network interface 508. In some embodiments, a savedzone group configuration is transmitted between a zone player and acontroller via the network interface 508. The controller 500 can controlone or more zone players, such as 102-124 of FIG. 1 . There can be morethan one controller for a particular system, and each controller mayshare common information with another controller, or retrieve the commoninformation from a zone player, if such a zone player storesconfiguration data (e.g., such as a state variable). Further, acontroller can be integrated into a zone player.

It should be noted that other network-enabled devices such as anIPHONE™, IPAD™ or any other smart phone or network-enabled device (e.g.,a networked computer such as a PC or MAC™) can also be used as acontroller to interact or control zone players in a particularenvironment. In some embodiments, a software application or upgrade canbe downloaded onto a network-enabled device to perform the functionsdescribed herein.

In certain embodiments, a user can create a zone group (also referred toas a bonded zone) including at least two zone players from thecontroller 500. The zone players in the zone group can play audio in asynchronized fashion, such that all of the zone players in the zonegroup playback an identical audio source or a list of identical audiosources in a synchronized manner such that no (or substantially no)audible delays or hiccups are to be heard. Similarly, in someembodiments, when a user increases the audio volume of the group fromthe controller 500, the signals or data of increasing the audio volumefor the group are sent to one of the zone players and causes other zoneplayers in the group to be increased together in volume.

A user via the controller 500 can group zone players into a zone groupby activating a “Link Zones” or “Add Zone” soft button, or de-grouping azone group by activating an “Unlink Zones” or “Drop Zone” button. Forexample, one mechanism for ‘joining’ zone players together for audioplayback is to link a number of zone players together to form a group.To link a number of zone players together, a user can manually link eachzone player or room one after the other. For example, assume that thereis a multi-zone system that includes the following zones: Bathroom,Bedroom, Den, Dining Room, Family Room, and Foyer. In certainembodiments, a user can link any number of the six zone players, forexample, by starting with a single zone and then manually linking eachzone to that zone.

In certain embodiments, a set of zones can be dynamically linkedtogether using a command to create a zone scene or theme (subsequent tofirst creating the zone scene). For instance, a “Morning” zone scenecommand can link the Bedroom, Office, and Kitchen zones together in oneaction. Without this single command, the user would manually andindividually link each zone. The single command may include a mouseclick, a double mouse click, a button press, a gesture, or some otherprogrammed or learned action. Other kinds of zone scenes can beprogrammed or learned by the system over time.

In certain embodiments, a zone scene can be triggered based on time(e.g., an alarm clock function). For instance, a zone scene can be setto apply at 8:00 am. The system can link appropriate zonesautomatically, set specific music to play, and then stop the music aftera defined duration and revert the zones to their prior configuration.Although any particular zone can be triggered to an “On” or “Off” statebased on time, for example, a zone scene enables any zone(s) linked tothe scene to play a predefined audio (e.g., a favorable song, apredefined playlist) at a specific time and/or for a specific duration.If, for any reason, the scheduled music failed to be played (e.g., anempty playlist, no connection to a share, failed Universal Plug and Play(UPnP), no Internet connection for an Internet Radio station, and soon), a backup buzzer can be programmed to sound. The buzzer can includea sound file that is stored in a zone player, for example.

V. Playback Queue

As discussed above, in some embodiments, a zone player may be assignedto a playback queue identifying zero or more media items for playback bythe zone player. The media items identified in a playback queue may berepresented to the user via an interface on a controller. For instance,the representation may show the user (or users if more than onecontroller is connected to the system) how the zone player is traversingthe playback queue, such as by highlighting the “now playing” item,graying out the previously played item(s), highlighting the to-be-playeditem(s), and so on.

In some embodiments, a single zone player is assigned to a playbackqueue. For example, zone player 114 in the bathroom of FIG. 1 may belinked or assigned to a “Bathroom” playback queue. In an embodiment, the“Bathroom” playback queue might have been established by the system as aresult of the user naming the zone player 114 to the bathroom. As such,contents populated and identified in the “Bathroom” playback queue canbe played via the zone player 114 (the bathroom zone).

In some embodiments, a zone or zone group is assigned to a playbackqueue. For example, zone players 106 and 108 in the family room of FIG.1 may be linked or assigned to a “Family room” playback queue. Inanother example, if family room and dining room zones were grouped, thenthe new group would be linked or assigned to a family room+dining roomplayback queue. In some embodiments, the family room+dining roomplayback queue would be established based upon the creation of thegroup. In some embodiments, upon establishment of the new group, thefamily room+dining room playback queue can automatically include thecontents of one (or both) of the playback queues associated with eitherthe family room or dining room or both. In one instance, if the userstarted with the family room and added the dining room, then thecontents of the family room playback queue would become the contents ofthe family room+dining room playback queue. In another instance, if theuser started with the family room and added the dining room, then thefamily room playback queue would be renamed to the family room+diningroom playback queue. If the new group was “ungrouped,” then the familyroom+dining room playback queue may be removed from the system and/orrenamed to one of the zones (e.g., renamed to “family room” or “diningroom”). After ungrouping, each of the family room and the dining roomwill be assigned to a separate playback queue. One or more of the zoneplayers in the zone or zone group may store in memory the associatedplayback queue.

As such, when zones or zone groups are “grouped” or “ungrouped”dynamically by the user via a controller, the system will, in someembodiments, establish or remove/rename playback queues respectively, aseach zone or zone group is to be assigned to a playback queue. In otherwords, the playback queue operates as a container that can be populatedwith media items for playback by the assigned zone. In some embodiments,the media items identified in a playback queue can be manipulated (e.g.,re-arranged, added to, deleted from, and so on).

By way of illustration, FIG. 6 shows an example network 600 for mediacontent playback. As shown, the example network 600 includes examplezone players 612 and 614, example audio sources 662 and 664, and examplemedia items 620. The example media items 620 may include playlist 622,music track 624, favorite Internet radio station 626, playlists 628 and630, and album 632. In one embodiment, the zone players 612 and 614 maybe any of the zone players shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 . For instance,zone players 612 and 614 may be the zone players 106 and 108 in theFamily Room.

In one example, the example audio sources 662 and 664, and example mediaitems 620 may be partially stored on a cloud network, discussed morebelow in connection to FIG. 8 . In some cases, the portions of the audiosources 662, 664, and example media items 620 may be stored locally onone or both of the zone players 612 and 614. In one embodiment, playlist622, favorite Internet radio station 626, and playlist 630 may be storedlocally, and music track 624, playlist 628, and album 632 may be storedon the cloud network.

Each of the example media items 620 may be a list of media itemsplayable by a zone player(s). In one embodiment, the example media itemsmay be a collection of links or pointers (i.e. URI) to the underlyingdata for media items that are stored elsewhere, such as the audiosources 662 and 664. In another embodiment, the media items may includepointers to media content stored on the local zone player, another zoneplayer over a local network, or a controller device connected to thelocal network.

As shown, the example network 600 may also include an example queue 602associated with the zone player 612, and an example queue 604 associatedwith the zone player 614. Queue 606 may be associated with a group, whenin existence, comprising zone players 612 and 614. Queue 606 mightcomprise a new queue or exist as a renamed version of queue 602 or 604.In some embodiments, in a group, the zone players 612 and 614 would beassigned to queue 606 and queue 602 and 604 would not be available atthat time. In some embodiments, when the group is no longer inexistence, queue 606 is no longer available. Each zone player and eachcombination of zone players in a network of zone players, such as thoseshown in FIG. 1 or that of example zone players 612, 614, and examplecombination 616, may be uniquely assigned to a corresponding playbackqueue.

A playback queue, such as playback queues 602-606, may includeidentification of media content to be played by the corresponding zoneplayer or combination of zone players. As such, media items added to theplayback queue are to be played by the corresponding zone player orcombination of zone players. The zone player may be configured to playitems in the queue according to a specific order (such as an order inwhich the items were added), in a random order, or in some other order.

The playback queue may include a combination of playlists and othermedia items added to the queue. In one embodiment, the items in playbackqueue 602 to be played by the zone player 612 may include items from theaudio sources 662, 664, or any of the media items 622-632. The playbackqueue 602 may also include items stored locally on the zone player 612,or items accessible from the zone player 614. For instance, the playbackqueue 602 may include Internet radio 626 and album 632 items from audiosource 662, and items stored on the zone player 612.

When a media item is added to the queue via an interface of acontroller, a link to the item may be added to the queue. In a case ofadding a playlist to the queue, links to the media items in the playlistmay be provided to the queue. For example, the playback queue 602 mayinclude pointers from the Internet radio 626 and album 632, pointers toitems on the audio source 662, and pointers to items on the zone player612. In another case, a link to the playlist, for example, rather than alink to the media items in the playlist may be provided to the queue,and the zone player or combination of zone players may play the mediaitems in the playlist by accessing the media items via the playlist. Forexample, the album 632 may include pointers to items stored on audiosource 662. Rather than adding links to the items on audio source 662, alink to the album 632 may be added to the playback queue 602, such thatthe zone player 612 may play the items on the audio source 662 byaccessing the items via pointers in the album 632.

In some cases, contents as they exist at a point in time within aplayback queue may be stored as a playlist, and subsequently added tothe same queue later or added to another queue. For example, contents ofthe playback queue 602, at a particular point in time, may be saved as aplaylist, stored locally on the zone player 612 and/or on the cloudnetwork. The saved playlist may then be added to playback queue 604 tobe played by zone player 614.

VI. Example Ad-Hoc Network

Particular examples are now provided in connection with FIG. 7 todescribe, for purposes of illustration, certain embodiments to provideand facilitate connection to a playback network. FIG. 7 shows that thereare three zone players 702, 704 and 706 and a controller 708 that form anetwork branch that is also referred to as an Ad-Hoc network 710. Thenetwork 710 may be wireless, wired, or a combination of wired andwireless technologies. In general, an Ad-Hoc (or “spontaneous”) networkis a local area network or other small network in which there isgenerally no one access point for all traffic. With an establishedAd-Hoc network 710, the devices 702, 704, 706 and 708 can allcommunicate with each other in a “peer-to-peer” style of communication,for example. Furthermore, devices may join and/or leave from the network710, and the network 710 will automatically reconfigure itself withoutneeding the user to reconfigure the network 710. While an Ad-Hoc networkis referenced in FIG. 7 , it is understood that a playback network maybe based on a type of network that is completely or partially differentfrom an Ad-Hoc network.

Using the Ad-Hoc network 710, the devices 702, 704, 706, and 708 canshare or exchange one or more audio sources and be dynamically grouped(or ungrouped) to play the same or different audio sources. For example,the devices 702 and 704 are grouped to playback one piece of music, andat the same time, the device 706 plays back another piece of music. Inother words, the devices 702, 704, 706 and 708, as shown in FIG. 7 ,form a HOUSEHOLD that distributes audio and/or reproduces sound. As usedherein, the term HOUSEHOLD (provided in uppercase letters todisambiguate from the user's domicile) is used to represent a collectionof networked devices that are cooperating to provide an application orservice. An instance of a HOUSEHOLD is identified with a household 710(or household identifier), though a HOUSEHOLD may be identified with adifferent area or place.

In certain embodiments, a household identifier (HHID) is a short stringor an identifier that is computer-generated to help ensure that it isunique. Accordingly, the network 710 can be characterized by a uniqueHHID and a unique set of configuration variables or parameters, such aschannels (e.g., respective frequency bands), service set identifier(SSID) (a sequence of alphanumeric characters as a name of a wirelessnetwork), and WEP keys (wired equivalent privacy) or other securitykeys. In certain embodiments, SSID is set to be the same as HHID.

In certain embodiments, each HOUSEHOLD includes two types of networknodes: a control point (CP) and a zone player (ZP). The control pointcontrols an overall network setup process and sequencing, including anautomatic generation of required network parameters (e.g., securitykeys). In an embodiment, the CP also provides the user with a HOUSEHOLDconfiguration user interface. The CP function can be provided by acomputer running a CP application module, or by a handheld controller(e.g., the controller 308) also running a CP application module, forexample. The zone player is any other device on the network that isplaced to participate in the automatic configuration process. The ZP, asa notation used herein, includes the controller 308 or a computingdevice, for example. In some embodiments, the functionality, or certainparts of the functionality, in both the CP and the ZP are combined at asingle node (e.g., a ZP contains a CP or vice-versa).

In certain embodiments, configuration of a HOUSEHOLD involves multipleCPs and ZPs that rendezvous and establish a known configuration suchthat they can use a standard networking protocol (e.g., IP over Wired orWireless Ethernet) for communication. In an embodiment, two types ofnetworks/protocols are employed: Ethernet 802.3 and Wireless 802.11g.Interconnections between a CP and a ZP can use either of thenetworks/protocols. A device in the system as a member of a HOUSEHOLDcan connect to both networks simultaneously.

In an environment that has both networks in use, it is assumed that atleast one device in a system is connected to both as a bridging device,thus providing bridging services between wired/wireless networks forothers. The zone player 706 in FIG. 7 is shown to be connected to bothnetworks, for example. The connectivity to the network 712 is based onEthernet and/or Wireless, while the connectivity to other devices 702,704 and 708 is based on Wireless and Ethernet if so desired.

It is understood, however, that in some embodiments each zone player706, 704, 702 may access the Internet when retrieving media from thecloud (e.g., the Internet) via the bridging device. For example, zoneplayer 702 may contain a uniform resource locator (URL) that specifiesan address to a particular audio track in the cloud. Using the URL, thezone player 702 may retrieve the audio track from the cloud, andultimately play the audio out of one or more zone players.

VII. Another Example System Configuration

FIG. 8 shows a system 800 including a plurality of interconnectednetworks including a cloud-based network and at least one local playbacknetwork. A local playback network includes a plurality of playbackdevices or players, though it is understood that the playback networkmay contain only one playback device. In certain embodiments, eachplayer has an ability to retrieve its content for playback. Control andcontent retrieval can be distributed or centralized, for example. Inputcan include streaming content provider input, third party applicationinput, mobile device input, user input, and/or other playback networkinput into the cloud for local distribution and playback.

As illustrated by the example system 800 of FIG. 8 , a plurality ofcontent providers 820-850 can be connected to one or more local playbacknetworks 860-870 via a cloud and/or other network 810. Using the cloud810, a multimedia audio system server 820 (e.g., Sonos™), a mobiledevice 830, a third party application 840, a content provider 850 and soon can provide multimedia content (requested or otherwise) to localplayback networks 860, 870. Within each local playback network 860, 870,a controller 862, 872 and a playback device 864, 874 can be used toplayback audio content.

VIII. Example Group Volume Control in a Network Media System

As discussed above, embodiments described herein involve volume controlsof playback devices in a network media system. In one example, theplayback devices may include zone players by SONOS, Inc., as identifiedpreviously. In one case, one or more of the playback devices may beorganized into playback zones to render media content in synchrony, asdescribed above. In another case, one or more of the playback zones mayfurther be organized into one or more groups of playback zones.

In one example, the interface may be provided on the controller 130 asdiscussed above, in the form of an application running on anetwork-enabled device. In one case, the first controller interface maybe an application associated with the network media system, such as acontroller application for SONOS zone players. The interface may beaccessible by a user to manage and control a network media system, whichmay include one or more playback zones, each including one or moreplayback devices. In one example, the device providing the userinterface may include a touch-sensitive screen interface, such that theuser may manage and control the network media system through touchinputs on the interface.

Touch inputs on the interface may include a land input indicating atouch engagement with the user interface, a swipe input indicatingcontinuous engagement between two input areas on the user interface, alift input indicating a touch disengagement from the user interface, aflick input indicating a directional disengagement from the userinterface, and a hold input indicating a stationary touch engagement ofa given duration with the user interface. Interactions with theinterface may include a series of the suggested touch inputs performeddiscreetly or continuously. Other example touch inputs and interactionswith the interface may also be possible.

FIGS. 10A and 10B, FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, and FIG. 12 show a series ofexample user interfaces for media content playback and volume control bya network media system such as those described above. As will bediscussed in the following, FIG. 10A shows an example user interface1000 for media content playback by a group of playback devices at a timeT0. T0 may be when the user accesses the user interface while thenetwork media system is playing media content. From the user interface1000, the user may access a user interface 1050 at time T1, as shown inFIG. 10B, when the user wishes to view and control playback volumesassociated with groups of playback devices in the network media system.FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C show example touch interactions with the userinterface at time T1 that may cause playback volume adjustments, andFIG. 12 shows an example user interface 1200 at time T2, after thevolume adjustments have been made in response to the example touchinteractions at T1, shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the interface 1000 provides graphicalrepresentations of media content being played, and informationassociated with the media content being played. The interface 1000 mayfurther provide a zone identifier 1020 identifying the zone or zonegroup playing the represented media content. In this case, the zoneidentifier 1020 may show “Living Room+2” to indicate that the mediacontent is being played by a “Living Room” zone and two other zones thatmay be organized in a group with the Living Room zone. In some respect,the group of zone players may effectively be a zone that includes theone or more zone players from each of the zones in the group.

As indicated previously, the user may manage and control playbackvolumes of playback devices in the network media system via the userinterface. In this case, the interface 1000 may further provide aselectable control icon 1002 that may be selected to bring up a volumecontrol interface 1050, as shown in FIG. 10B.

FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for volume control of a group ofplayback devices, in accordance with at least some embodiments describedherein. Method 900 shown in FIG. 9 presents an embodiment of a methodthat could be used in the environments 100, 600, 700, and 800 with thesystems 200, 202, 204, 300, 400, and 500 for example, in communicationwith one or more devices, such as those illustrated in FIGS. 2-5 .Method 900 may include one or more operations, functions, or actions asillustrated by one or more of blocks 902-908. Although the blocks areillustrated in sequential order, these blocks may also be performed inparallel, and/or in a different order than those described herein. Also,the various blocks may be combined into fewer blocks, divided intoadditional blocks, and/or removed based upon the desired implementation.

In addition, for the method 900 and other processes and methodsdisclosed herein, the flowchart shows functionality and operation of onepossible implementation of present embodiments. In this regard, eachblock may represent a module, a segment, or a portion of program code,which includes one or more instructions executable by a processor forimplementing specific logical functions or steps in the process. Theprogram code may be stored on any type of computer readable medium, forexample, such as a storage device including a disk or hard drive. Thecomputer readable medium may include non-transitory computer readablemedium, for example, such as computer-readable media that stores datafor short periods of time like register memory, processor cache andRandom Access Memory (RAM). The computer readable medium may alsoinclude non-transitory media, such as secondary or persistent long termstorage, like read only memory (ROM), optical or magnetic disks,compact-disc read only memory (CD-ROM), for example. The computerreadable media may also be any other volatile or non-volatile storagesystems. The computer readable medium may be considered a computerreadable storage medium, for example, or a tangible storage device. Inaddition, for the method 900 and other processes and methods disclosedherein, each block in FIG. 9 may represent circuitry that is wired toperform the specific logical functions in the process.

At block 902, the method 900 may involve providing for display anadjustable first volume indicator along a first volume scale associatedwith a first playback volume, and an independently adjustable secondvolume indicator along a second volume scale associated with a secondplayback volume. The first playback volume may be that of a first groupof one or more playback devices in the network media system, and thesecond playback volume may be that of a second group of one or moreplayback devices in the network media system. In one example, the volumeindicators and volume scales may be as provided on the interface 1050 ofFIG. 10B.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the interface 1050 may include a Deck zone volumecontrol region 1060, a Kitchen zone volume control region 1058, and aLiving Room zone volume control region 1056. As indicated, the two otherzones organized in the group with the Living Room zone as referencedabove may be the “Deck” zone and the “Kitchen” zone.

The Deck zone volume control region 1060 may include a Deck volume scale1010 and a Deck volume indicator 1022 along the Deck volume scale 1010.Similarly, the Kitchen zone volume control region 1058 may include aKitchen volume scale 1008 and a Kitchen volume indicator 1024 along theKitchen volume scale 1008, and the Living Room zone region 1056 mayinclude a Living Room volume scale 1006 and a Living Room volumeindicator 1026 along the Living Room volume scale 1006.

Each of the volume indicators 1022, 1024, and 1026 represent a playbackvolume level of the respective playback zones along normalized volumescales 1010, 1008, and 1006. As noted previously, each playback zone mayhave different numbers of playback devices and different types ofplayback devices. As such, actual playback volume outputs (measurable indecibels) may vary from zone to zone, even if the playback volumes areshown to be substantially the same along normalized volume scales.

As shown, the Deck zone volume control region also includes a headphoneicon 1014 indicating that playback of media content in the Deck zone maybe through one or more headphones rather than speakers of playbackdevices in the Deck zone. Also shown, the Living Room volume controlregion includes a mute icon indicating that output from playback devicesin the Living Room zone may be currently muted. In this case, the LivingRoom volume indicator 1026 may represent a volume level that playbackdevices in the Living Room zone may playback media content when playbackin the Living Room zone is unmuted. Also as shown, Living Room volumeindicator 1026 may be colored differently from indicators 1022, 1024,and 1028 to indicate that the Living Room zone is currently muted.

The interface 1050 shown in FIG. 10B also includes a “Master Volume”control region 1054 with a Master Volume scale 1004, and a Master Volumeindicator 1028 along the Master Volume scale 1004. In this example, theMaster Volume indicator 1028 may represent the group volume level of the“Living Room+2” group of zones along the Master volume scale 1004, whichmay be normalized along with volume scales 1006, 1008, and 1010.

In some cases, the group volume may represent a combination of playbackvolumes of the different playback zones in the group. For instance, thegroup volume as indicated by the Master Volume indicator 1028 may bebased on an average of playback zone volumes as indicated by volumeindicators 1022, 1024, and 1026. In another instance, the Master Volumeindicator 1028 may be based on an average of playback volumes for eachof the one or more playback device in the playback zones of the group.As yet another example, Master Volume indicator 1028 may be shown toreflect the volume of the highest of the indicators 1022-1026. Otherexamples are possible as well.

Referring back to block 902 of the method 900, the first and secondvolume scales may refer to any two the volume scales 1004, 1006, 1008,or 1010. In one instance, the first volume scale may refer to the Deckvolume scale 1010, and the second volume scale may refer to the Kitchenvolume scale 1008. In another instance, the first volume scale may referto the Master Volume scale, and the second volume scale may refer to theLiving Room volume scale. In this instance, the first group of one ormore playback devices may include the second group of one or moreplayback devices. For purposes of illustration, embodiments discussedhereafter may generally involve an instance where the first volume scalerefers to the Master Volume scale 1004, and the second volume scalerefers to any one or more of the Living Room volume scale 1006, Kitchenvolume scale 1008, and Deck volume scale 1010. Nevertheless, otherconfigurations are also possible.

Further, as shown and suggested above, additional volume indicatorsalong respective additional volume scales associated with additionalplayback volumes may also be provided on the interface, as shown in FIG.10B. For instance, an independently adjustable third volume indicatoralong a third volume scale associated with a third playback volume maybe provided. In this instance, the third playback volume may be that ofa third group of one or more playback devices. In one case, the firstgroup of one or more playback devices may include both the second andthird group of one or more playback devices. Accordingly, any featuresand interactions discussed herein relating to the first and secondplayback volumes (and associated volume indicators and volume scalesprovided on the interface) may similarly be applied to the third or anyadditional playback volumes.

At block 904, the method 900 may involve receiving via the userinterface, an input comprising one of a hold input, a swipe input, or aflick input. Each of the hold, swipe, and flick inputs may involve anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale. In one example, the particular input areamay be substantially on the particular position of the first volumeindicator displayed on the user interface. As suggested above, the inputmay be configured to cause the first playback volume to be applied toone or more other playback zones in the network media system such thatthe volume level on the respective normalized volume scale for each ofthe one or more other playback zones matches that of the first playbackvolume on the normalized first volume scale.

The hold input may involve a substantially stationary touch engagementon the user interface. As such, the input may include a hold input onthe particular input area on the user interface corresponding to theparticular position of the first volume indicator along the first volumescale. In one case, the hold input may involve the substantiallystationary touch engagement being sustained for a given duration. Forinstance, the given duration may be in the range of 5 to 15milliseconds. FIG. 11A shows the interface 1050 at time T1 with a holdinput 1102 substantially on the Master Volume indicator 1028, such thatthe group volume as indicated by the position of the Master Volumeindicator 1028 along the Master Volume scale 1004 may be applied to theplayback zones in the “Living Room+2” group.

The flick input may involve a directional disengagement from the userinterface. As such, the input may include a flick input starting fromthe particular input area on the user interface towards areas on theinterface where volume control regions for playback zones in the groupmay be provided. FIG. 11B shows the interface 1050 at time T1 with aflick input 1104 disengaging from the Master Volume indicator 1028 inthe direction of the Deck zone volume control region 1060, the Kitchenzone volume control region 1058, and the Living Room zone volume controlregion 1056. As such, the group volume as indicated by the position ofthe Master Volume indicator 1028 along the Master Volume scale 1004 maybe applied to the playback zones in the “Living Room+2” group.

The swipe input may involve a continuous engagement between to areas onthe user interface. As such, the input may include a swipe inputstarting from the particular input area on the user interface andtraversing areas on the interface where volume control regions forplayback zones in the group are provided. FIG. 11C shows the interface1050 at time T1 with a swipe input 1106 starting substantially from theMaster Volume indicator 1028 and traversing the Living Room volume scale1006 in the Living Room zone volume control region 1056, the Kitchenvolume scale 1008 in the Kitchen zone volume control region 1058, andthe Deck volume scale 1010 in the Deck zone volume control region 1060.As such, the group volume as indicated by the position of the MasterVolume indicator 1028 along the Master Volume scale 1004 may be appliedto the playback zones in the “Living Room+2” group.

In some cases, the input may include a single interaction with the userinterface such as the hold, swipe, or flick inputs described. In someother cases, the input may include a series of interactions with theuser interface. In one case, the input involving the engagement with aparticular input area on the user interface corresponding to aparticular position of the first volume indicator along the first volumescale may further include an initial input to move the first volumeindicator to the particular position. In other words, the first playbackvolume may be adjusted immediately prior to being applied to the one ormore other playback zones in the network media system.

In one example, the initial input may involve an initial swipe inputindicating continuous engagement between an initial input area on theuser interface substantially corresponding to an initial position of thefirst volume indicator along the first volume scale and the particularinput area on the user interface. In this case, the initial position ofthe first volume indicator may correspond to an initial playback volumeof the first group of one or more playback devices in the network mediasystem. As such, the initial swipe input between the initial input areaand the particular input area may cause a movement of the first volumeindicator from the initial position to the particular position along thefirst volume scale, and correspondingly cause the initial playbackvolume of the first group of one or more playback devices to be adjustedto the first playback volume of the first group of one or more playbackdevices.

Referring back to FIG. 10B, a swipe input 1016 may have been provided onthe interface 1050 to move the Master Volume indicator 1028 along theMaster Volume scale 1004 from an initial position to a new, desiredposition to adjust the group volume level of the “Living Room+2” group,prior to the inputs shown in FIGS. 11A-C to apply the group volume tothe other playback zones in the group. As shown in FIG. 10B, the groupvolume may have been adjusted from around 30 out of 100 to a new,desired group volume level of 50. In this case, corresponding volumeadjustments may have also been made to the playback volume levels forthe Deck zone, Kitchen zone, and Living Room zone. For instance, theplayback volume level for the Living Room zone may have been accordinglyadjusted from around 43 out of 100 to 63, in response to the adjustmentof the group volume level.

In addition to the swipe input 1016 as shown in FIG. 10B, other inputssuch as tap or double tap inputs involving brief engagements with theparticular input area on the user interface may accordingly cause thefirst volume indicator to move and the playback volume of the firstgroup of playback devices to be adjusted. In addition to the MasterVolume indicator 1028, each of the volume indicators 1022, 1024, and1026 may also be individually moved via the touch screen along thevolume scales 1010, 1008, and 1006 to adjust playback volumes for theDeck zone, Kitchen zone, and Living Room zone, respectively in a similarmanner. As suggested above, the Master Volume indicator 1028 may beaccordingly adjusted in response to volume adjustments to the Deck zone,Kitchen zone, and Living Room zone if the group volume changes as aresult of the adjustments to the Deck zone, Kitchen zone, and/or LivingRoom zone.

As mentioned above, the input may be configured to cause the firstplayback volume to be applied to one or more other playback zones in thenetwork media system such that the volume level on the respectivenormalized volume scale for each of the one or more other playback zonesmatches that of the first playback volume on the normalized first volumescale. Accordingly, the corresponding volume indicator for each of theone or more playback zones may be also moved to the same, orsubstantially the same desired position along corresponding volumescales as the first volume indicator.

In response to receiving the input at block 904, block 906 of the method900 may involve causing a corresponding movement of the second volumeindicator to a matching position along the second volume scale accordingto the particular position of the first volume indicator. In one case,the matching position along the second volume scale may be substantiallythe same as the particular position along the first volume scale. Inother words, the first and second volume indicators may be atsubstantially the same position along the first and second normalizedvolume scales, respectively. FIG. 12 shows the example user interface1200 at time T2, after the volume adjustments have been made in responseto the example touch interactions at T1, shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and11C. In this case, the group volume as indicated by the Master Volumeindicator 1028 along the Master Volume scale has been applied to theplayback zones in the “Living Room+2” group. As shown, the Living Roomvolume indicator 1026, the Kitchen volume indicator 1024, and the Deckvolume indicator 1022 are each in the same, or substantially the sameposition along the respective volume scales as the Master Volumeindicator 1028 is along the Master Volume scale 1004, i.e. 50 out of100.

Also in response to receiving the input at block 904, block 908 of themethod 900 may involve causing the second playback volume of the secondgroup of one or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playbackvolume corresponding to the matching position along the second volumescale. Analogous to how the matching position along the second volumescale may be substantially the same as the particular position along thefirst volume scale, the new playback volume of the second group of oneor more playback devices may be substantially the same as the firstplayback volume of the first group of one or more playback devices. Asindicated previously, actual playback volume outputs (measurable indecibels) may vary from zone to zone, even if the playback volumes areshown to be substantially the same along normalized volume scales.

In embodiments described herein, playback volumes may correspond torespective volume indicators along respective volume scales and viceversa. While blocks 906 and 908 of the method 900 may involve adjustingplayback volumes according to movements of corresponding volumeindicators, other embodiments may also be possible. For instance, theinput received at block 904 may cause the first playback volume to beapplied to the second group of one or more playback devices, and thesecond volume indicator may be moved along the second volume scaleaccording to the new playback volume of the second group of one or moreplayback devices.

In one example, the method 900 may further involve causing the firstgroup of one or more playback devices to render a first media content atthe first playback volume, and causing the second group of one or moreplayback devices to render a second media content at the new playbackvolume. As indicated above, the new playback volume may be the same, orsubstantially the same as the second playback volume.

In one case, causing the first group of one or more playback devices torender the first media content at the first playback volume may involvesending to at least one playback device in the first group of one ormore playback devices data indicating the first playback volume. In someinstances, the data indicating the first playback volume may only besent in response to a change in the playback volume of the first groupof one or more playback devices (i.e. from the initial playback volumeto the first playback volume). In one case, the data indicating thefirst playback volume may be sent to a single playback device in thezone, and the single playback device may subsequently communicate thefirst playback volume to other playback devices in the zone. In anothercase, a subset of playback devices in the zone may receive the data, andsubsequently communicate the new playback volume to the remainingplayback devices. In yet another case, each of the playback devices inthe zone may receive the data indicating the new playback volume.

Analogously, causing the second group of one or more playback devices torender the second media content at the new playback volume may involvesending to at least one playback device in the second group of one ormore playback devices data indicating the second playback volume.Similar to the case of the first playback volume, the data indicatingthe new playback volume may be provided to the playback devices in thesecond group through a single playback device in the second group, asubset of playback devices in the second group, or directly to eachplayback device in the second group.

As discussed in the examples above, the first and second groups ofplayback devices in the network media system may be playing mediacontent in synchrony. As such, in one example, the first media contentrendered by the first group of playback devices may be the same as thesecond media content rendered by the second group of playback devices.

Further, in some embodiments, the network media system may be configuredsuch that the new volume levels for the groups of playback devices maybe applicable to specific corresponding playback configurations.Referring back to the examples discussed above in connection to FIG.10A-12 , the applied volume level of 50 out of 100 for each zone in the“Living Room+2” group may be specifically associated with the “LivingRoom+2” configuration. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a differentvolume level for a playback zone or individual playback device may besaved and reverted to at a later time for any combination of playbackzones or playback devices that includes the playback zone or individualplayback device. Other example configurations and embodiments may alsobe possible.

For instance, the original Kitchen zone volume level of 38 out of 100may be saved when the group volume level is applied to the Kitchen zone.As such, if and when the “Living Room+2” group becomes inactive suchthat the Deck zone, Kitchen zone, and Living Room zone are no longerorganized in a group, the Kitchen zone volume level may revert back tobeing 38 out of 100. Subsequently, if the Deck zone, Kitchen zone, andLiving Room zone are once again organized together as the “LivingRoom+2” group, the zone volume level for the Kitchen zone (as well asthe Deck zone and the Living Room zone) may be adjusted to be 50 out of100, or whatever the applied group volume was when the group previouslybecame inactive.

In addition, one having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate thatinteractions and touch inputs such as those described above may also bebased on for applying volume levels from one zone to another, whether ornot the zones are in a group. Referring back to FIG. 10B as an example,if a swipe input is provided starting from the substantially where theLiving Room volume indicator 1026 is provided on the interface 1050 andtraversing the Kitchen volume scale in the Kitchen zone volume controlregion 1058, the volume level of 63 out of 100 in the Living Room zonemay be applied such that the volume level of the Kitchen zone is also63, while the volume level of the Deck zone may remain at 27. In thiscase, the group volume level as indicated in the Master Volume controlregion 1054 may be updated according to the change in the volume levelof the Kitchen zone. Other examples, which may involve a hold input likethe hold input 1102 or a flick input like the flick input 1104 forinstance, may also be possible.

IX. Conclusion

The descriptions above disclose various example systems, methods,apparatus, and articles of manufacture including, among othercomponents, firmware and/or software executed on hardware. However, suchexamples are merely illustrative and should not be considered aslimiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of thesefirmware, hardware, and/or software components can be embodiedexclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively infirmware, or in any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.Accordingly, while the following describes example systems, methods,apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture, the examples provided are notthe only way(s) to implement such systems, methods, apparatus, and/orarticles of manufacture.

As indicated above, the present application involves volume controls ofplayback devices in a network media system. In one aspect, a method isprovided. The method involves providing for display on a user interfacean adjustable first volume indicator along a first volume scaleassociated with a first playback volume of a first group of one or moreplayback devices, and an independently adjustable second volumeindicator along a second volume scale associated with a second playbackvolume of a second group of one or more playback devices.

The method further involves receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The method also involves responsively, causing a corresponding movementof the second volume indicator to a matching position along the secondvolume scale according to the particular position of the first volumeindicator, and causing the second playback volume of the second group ofone or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playback volumecorresponding to the matching position along the second volume scale.

In another aspect, a device is provided. The device includes a processorand memory having stored thereon instructions executable by theprocessor to perform functions. The functions include providing fordisplay on a user interface an adjustable first volume indicator along afirst volume scale associated with a first playback volume of a firstgroup of one or more playback devices, and an independently adjustablesecond volume indicator along a second volume scale associated with asecond playback volume of a second group of one or more playbackdevices.

The functions further involve receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The functions also involve responsively, causing a correspondingmovement of the second volume indicator to a matching position along thesecond volume scale according to the particular position of the firstvolume indicator, and causing the second playback volume of the secondgroup of one or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playbackvolume corresponding to the matching position along the second volumescale.

In yet another aspect, a non-transitory computer readable memory isprovided. The non-transitory computer readable memory has stored thereoninstructions executable by a computing device to cause the computingdevice to perform functions. The functions include providing for displayon a user interface an adjustable first volume indicator along a firstvolume scale associated with a first playback volume of a first group ofone or more playback devices, and an independently adjustable secondvolume indicator along a second volume scale associated with a secondplayback volume of a second group of one or more playback devices.

The functions further involve receiving via the user interface, an inputcomprising one of (i) a continuous stationary touch engagement of agiven duration with a particular input area on the user interfacecorresponding to a particular position of the first volume indicatoralong the first volume scale (ii) a continuous engagement beginning at aparticular input area on the user interface substantially correspondingto a particular position of the first volume indicator along the firstvolume scale and traversing at least a second input area on the userinterface corresponding to the second volume scale, and (iii) anengagement with a particular input area on the user interfacesubstantially corresponding to a particular position of the first volumeindicator along the first volume scale, and a directional disengagementfrom the particular input area towards at least a second input area onthe user interface corresponding to the second volume scale.

The functions also involve responsively, causing a correspondingmovement of the second volume indicator to a matching position along thesecond volume scale according to the particular position of the firstvolume indicator, and causing the second playback volume of the secondgroup of one or more playback devices to be adjusted to a new playbackvolume corresponding to the matching position along the second volumescale.

Additionally, references herein to “embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment can be included in at least one example embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of this phrase in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. As such, the embodiments described herein, explicitly andimplicitly understood by one skilled in the art, can be combined withother embodiments.

The specification is presented largely in terms of illustrativeenvironments, systems, procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, andother symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble theoperations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These processdescriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled inthe art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it isunderstood to those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be practiced without certain, specific details.In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, andcircuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than theforgoing description of embodiments.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in at leastone example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible mediumsuch as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and so on, storing the softwareand/or firmware.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by at least one processor such that a computing device is configured to: while a headphone device and at least one playback device are in a group and playing back audio from a television, cause a display to show: (i) a first volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the headphone device, the first volume control indicating a first volume level of the headphone device; (ii) a second volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the at least one playback device, the second volume control indicating a first volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) a mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) a group volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the group, the group volume control indicating a first volume level of the group; after receipt of input data representing a command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to a second volume level of the group, send, via a communications interface, data representing instructions to (i) cause the headphone device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the headphone device to a second volume level of the headphone device and (ii) cause the at least one playback device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the at least one playback device to a second volume level of the at least one playback device, wherein the at least one playback device remains muted after modifying the first volume level of the at least one playback device from the first volume level of the at least one playback device to the second volume level of the at least one playback device; and after sending the data representing the instructions and while the headphone device and the at least one playback device are in the group, cause the display to: (i) update the first volume control from indicating the first volume level of the headphone device to indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) update the second volume control from indicating the first volume level of the at least one playback device to indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) continue indicating, via the mute control, that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) update the group volume control from indicating the first volume level of the group to indicating the second volume level of the group.
 2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: after the headphone device and at least one playback device are ungrouped, and while the at least one playback device continues to play back the audio from the television, cause the display to show (i) the second volume control, the second volume control indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device and (ii) the mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is not muted.
 3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: after receipt of input data representing a command to ungroup the headphone device and at least one playback device, sending, via the communications interface, data representing instructions to cause the headphone device and at least one playback device to ungroup from the group.
 4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: while the headphone device and at least one playback device are playing back audio from the television, cause the display to show an indication that the group is playing back the audio from the television.
 5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first volume control comprises a first volume slider, the second volume control comprises a second volume slider, and the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the display to show (i) the first volume control, (ii) the second volume control, (iii) the mute control, and (iv) the group volume control comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: cause the display to show: (i) the first volume slider, the first volume slider comprising a first volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) the second volume slider, the second volume slider comprising a second volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (iii) a selectable mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) the group volume slider, the group volume slider comprising a group volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the group.
 6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: determine that data representing a touch-and-slide input to a group volume indicator on the group volume slider represents the input data representing the command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to the second volume level of the group.
 7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein a particular room in a media playback system comprises the at least one playback device, and wherein the tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: cause the display to show an indication of a first name in association with the first volume control, wherein the headphone device is assigned the first name within the media playback system; and cause the display to show an indication of a second name in association with the second volume control, wherein the particular room is assigned the second name within the media playback system.
 8. A computing device comprising: a communications interface; at least one processor; and at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: while a headphone device and at least one playback device are in a group and playing back audio from a television, cause a display to show: (i) a first volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the headphone device, the first volume control indicating a first volume level of the headphone device; (ii) a second volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the at least one playback device, the second volume control indicating a first volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) a mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) a group volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the group, the group volume control indicating a first volume level of the group; after receipt of input data representing a command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to a second volume level of the group, send, via the communications interface, data representing instructions to (i) cause the headphone device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the headphone device to a second volume level of the headphone device and (ii) cause the at least one playback device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the at least one playback device to a second volume level of the at least one playback device, wherein the at least one playback device remains muted after modifying the first volume level of the at least one playback device from the first volume level of the at least one playback device to the second volume level of the at least one playback device; and after sending the data representing the instructions, and while the headphone device and the at least one playback device are in the group, cause the display to: (i) update the first volume control from indicating the first volume level of the headphone device to indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) update the second volume control from indicating the first volume level of the at least one playback device to indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) continue indicating, via the mute control that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) update the group volume control from indicating the first volume level of the group to indicating the second volume level of the group.
 9. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: after the headphone device and at least one playback device are ungrouped, and while the at least one playback device continues to play back the audio from the television, cause the display to show (i) the second volume control, the second volume control indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device and (ii) the mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is not muted.
 10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: after receipt of input data representing a command to ungroup the headphone device and at least one playback device, sending, via the communications interface, data representing instructions to cause the headphone device and at least one playback device to ungroup from the group.
 11. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: while the headphone device and at least one playback device are playing back audio from the television, cause the display to show an indication that the group is playing back the audio from the television.
 12. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the first volume control comprises a first volume slider, the second volume control comprises a second volume slider, and the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein the program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to cause the display to show (i) the first volume control, (ii) the second volume control, (iii) the mute control, and (iv) the group volume control comprise program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: cause the display to show: (i) the first volume slider, the first volume slider comprising a first volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) the second volume slider, the second volume slider comprising a second volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (iii) a selectable mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) the group volume slider, the group volume slider comprising a group volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the group.
 13. The computing device of claim 8, wherein the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: determine that data representing a touch-and-slide input to a group volume indicator on the group volume slider represents the input data representing the command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to the second volume level of the group.
 14. The computing device of claim 8, wherein a particular room in a media playback system comprises the at least one playback device, and wherein the at least one tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium further comprises program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing device is configured to: cause the display to show an indication of a first name in association with the first volume control, wherein the headphone device is assigned the first name within the media playback system; and cause the display to show an indication of a second name in association with the second volume control, wherein the particular room is assigned the second name within the media playback system.
 15. A method to be performed by a computing device, the method comprising: while a headphone device and at least one playback device are in a group and playing back audio from a television, causing a display to show: (i) a first volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the headphone device, the first volume control indicating a first volume level of the headphone device; (ii) a second volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the at least one playback device, the second volume control indicating a first volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) a mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) a group volume control that is controllable to modify a volume level of the group, the group volume control indicating a first volume level of the group; after receipt of input data representing a command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to a second volume level of the group, sending, via a communications interface, data representing instructions to (i) cause the headphone device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the headphone device to a second volume level of the headphone device and (ii) cause the at least one playback device to modify, according to the command to adjust the group volume control, the first volume level of the at least one playback device to a second volume level of the at least one playback device, wherein the at least one playback device remains muted after modifying the first volume level of the at least one playback device from the first volume level of the at least one playback device to the second volume level of the at least one playback device; and after sending the data representing the instructions and while the headphone device and the at least one playback device are in the group, causing the display to: (i) update the first volume control from indicating the first volume level of the headphone device to indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) update the second volume control from indicating the first volume level of the at least one playback device to indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device; (iii) continue indicating, via the mute control, that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) update the group volume control from indicating the first volume level of the group to indicating the second volume level of the group.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: after the headphone device and at least one playback device are ungrouped, and while the at least one playback device continues to play back the audio from the television, causing the display to show (i) the second volume control, the second volume control indicating the second volume level of the at least one playback device and (ii) the mute control, the mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is not muted.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: after receipt of input data representing a command to ungroup the headphone device and at least one playback device, sending, via the communications interface, data representing instructions to cause the headphone device and at least one playback device to ungroup from the group.
 18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: while the headphone device and at least one playback device are playing back audio from the television, causing the display to show an indication that the group is playing back the audio from the television.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first volume control comprises a first volume slider, the second volume control comprises a second volume slider, and the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein causing the first display to show (i) the first volume control, (ii) the second volume control, (iii) the mute control, and (iv) the group volume control comprises: causing the display to show: (i) the first volume slider, the first volume slider comprising a first volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (ii) the second volume slider, the second volume slider comprising a second volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the headphone device; (iii) a selectable mute control indicating that the at least one playback device is muted; and (iv) the group volume slider, the group volume slider comprising a group volume indicator indicating the second volume level of the group.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the group volume control comprises a group volume slider, and wherein the method further comprises: determine that data representing a touch-and-slide input to a group volume indicator on the group volume slider represents the input data representing the command to adjust the group volume control from the first volume level to the second volume level of the group. 